December 2012. The real life counterpart of Rudyard Kipling’s Baloo faces severe pressure from illegal trade and strong enforcement efforts are needed to protect wild bears in Asia, delegates to an international conference on bear conservation were told.

More than 300 experts from 37 countries gathered in India at the 21st Conference of the International Bear Association held from 26-30th November 2012, to discuss a wide range of bear conservation, research and management issues.

Asia’s bears are of special concern as demand for their parts for use in traditional medicines has increasingly become a serious threat to the conservation of these species. The illegal trade in bear bile and other bear products was highlighted by TRAFFIC and others, with the threats to Asia’s wild bear species being of extreme concern.

“In parallel to increasing enforcement efforts, it is important that steps are taken to reduce demand for bear products, through raising the awareness of laws and conservation issues, and through the promotion of legal herbal and synthetic alternatives to bear bile amongst traditional medicine users.”

“One of the greatest obstacles is the lack of awareness and concern amongst the public and relevant authorities regarding the wide range of threats to bear conservation around the world.”

National Bear Conservation and Welfare Action Plan 2012
The conference saw the release of the first “National Bear Conservation and Welfare Action Plan 2012″ by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, India, which was officially launched by the Honorable Indian Environment Minister, Mrs Jayanthi Natarajan.

TRAFFIC was encouraged by the Minister’s commitment to increase efforts to safeguard the four species of bears found in India. TRAFFIC has collaborated with the Wildlife Institute of India to tackle the illegal bear bile trade by developing protocols for identification of the product.

Conference delegates also heard about the remarkable change in attitude towards bears in India, with the trade in Sloth Bears for roadside performances all but eliminated for example. However, challenges still exist in India, including human-bear conflict issues, habitat loss and persistent poaching for illegal trade – all issues flagged as serious concerns in the National Bear Conservation and Welfare Action Plan.

The recent IUCN resolution concerning the threat to wild bear populations and their conservation was also presented at the conference. Among other things, the resolution calls for the closure of all illegal bear bile farms in Asia.

100 papers presented

More than 100 papers were presented at the conference on diverse aspects of bear research, conservation and welfare, from global warming affecting Polar Bears in Canada, to the widespread illegal use of snares in Lao PDR, to the continuing trade in bear bile products in Malaysia, to rehabilitation efforts for Sloth Bear kalandars in India.

Representatives of TRAFFIC, Wildlife Trust of India, Wildlife SOS, Animals Asia Foundation and World Society for the Protection of Animals cited their experiences in tackling the illegal wildlife trade in India, Nepal and South East Asia. There appears to be cross border smuggling of Sloth Bear cubs along the Indo Nepal border. Ms Jill Robinson, MBE, delivered a public lecture on bear bile farming in China and the illegal trade in bears in Viet Nam and her foundation’s experiences in tackling the illegal bear bile trade. Animals Asia Foundation and TRAFFIC have cooperated on bear conservation projects.

Bear torched

Participants highlighted the pressing need to tackle the ever growing cases of man animal conflict in India as borne out by the attempted torching of a bear in Kashmir recently (November 2012). Bear researchers of Canada and Russia also spoke about how global warming and climate change are affecting Polar Bears. All particpants unanimously applauded that the Indian government has taken the initative to focus attention on the plight of this much neglected species. Hopefully, the convention will aid the process of helping the wild cousins of Baloo live lives as nature intended.